Monday, December 2, 2013

WASTED LIVES

USA #26 out of 40
Johann Wagener 12-02-13

Many Americans have been misled to believe that we have the "best" healthcare system in the world. If that were true one would expect life expectancy would also be the best, but nothing is further from the truth.

The USA ranks 26th out of 40 countries in life expectancy yet we waste billions on a broken healthcare system that provides more profits than care.

Life expectancy in the U.S. has risen in the past few decades. While in 1970 life expectancy at birth was 70.9 years, it rose to 78.7 year by 2011. However, most of the developed world is improving faster than this country. And despite the fact that the U.S. spends vastly more per capita on health care than any other country, Americans’ life expectancy is only 26th highest.

However, high spending on health care is by no means a guarantee of a long life. Only three of the top 10 spenders per capita are in the top 10 for life expectancy. This is especially true for pharmaceutical spending. Just three of the nations where life expectancy at birth is longest are among the OECD’s 10 largest pharmaceutical spenders per capita.

Meanwhile, the U.S. spent $8,508 per capita on health care in 2011, more than $2,800 higher than the next country. The U.S. was 26th among the 40 countries measured by the OECD.Affordability and access to care are major factors that may be leading these countries’ residents to longer lives. A high rate of health insurance coverage

Maybe it's time for Americans to take a "moral inventory" and question why it is that the country that boasts to be the only "remaining super power" in the world is unable to provide adequate care for it's citizens?

Pope Francis is calling on all those who profess to be "Christians" to ask;

"How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?"